complement 1 of 2

noun

ˈkäm-plə-mənt How to pronounce complement (audio)
Definition of complementnext
1
as in supplement
something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else with his practicality and her refreshing enthusiasm, they are perfect complements to each other

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in capacity
the largest number or amount that something can hold a full complement of sailors on the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

complement

2 of 2

verb

ˈkäm-plə-ˌment How to pronounce complement (audio)
as in to adorn
to serve as a completing element to this silk handkerchief will complement your suit very nicely and give it a bit of dash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complement
Noun
Jeremiah Cobb also was effective as the running back complement to Brown’s lead role. — Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Among street style stars, black skirts are the perfect complement to loose-fitting sweaters and oversized blazers. — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
Uber has previously said its robots are intended to complement human delivery workers rather than replace them. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Do the games of Antetokounmpo and Adebayo complement each other? — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complement
  1. supplement
  2. capacity
  3. adorn
  4. volume
  5. enhance
  6. real estate
  7. complete
  8. decorate
Noun
  • To limit bruising, patients are often told to avoid alcohol, blood-thinning pain relievers and supplements like ginkgo biloba, ginger, garlic and vitamin E for a few days before and after.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Research suggests that regularly taking saffron supplements can reduce the amount of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker, in the blood.
    — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of supplement
Noun
  • The additional site will further strengthen the company’s manufacturing network in Colorado and provide additional capacity for its growing space and sensor systems business.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The massive 5,942-lb (2,695 kg) weight is somewhat disguised by a system that swaps traditional mechanical anti-roll bars for triple-stage adjustable air springs linked to a high-capacity central hydraulic pressure reservoir.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of capacity
Verb
  • Hiding his Caesar cut under his signature New York Yankees cap and adorned with a glittery stack of gold chains, JAY-Z kept his setlist as tight as his concert attire of bulletproof vests.
    — Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • For the closing set, according to a photo posted on X and various videos, the legendary rocker was lifted onto the stage while seated on a black throne adorned with skulls and topped with a black bat.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of adorn
Noun
  • Testing 300,000 battery designs At the center of the new platform is lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery technology, which GM is developing for its high-volume electric vehicles.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Turn the volume up and that pinhole dilates, revealing swirling galaxies of vocal harmonies, upright bass plucks, and cascading piano runs.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of volume
Verb
  • Throughout history, some were commissioned to enhance the interiors with their signature flair while others bartered their artwork for breaks on daily rates and others simply just thrived off the scene.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Each picture mode offers essentially the same rich set of options, except for AI-enhanced, which locks you out of some settings (including local contrast and color tuner), presumably because the AI logic is handling those.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of enhance
Noun
  • Three once high-flying brothers convicted of exploiting their wealth and access to luxury real estate to drug and rape dozens of women were sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The backstory Tyler Cauble, a local real estate developer, looked at the Congress Inn for years and envisioned a place that served both locals and visitors.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of real estate
Verb
  • And digging a tunnel from the Brown to the Blue, even for a couple of miles, would probably only be completed in a decade.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Adaptable Deck Launcher (ADL) completed its first live-fire demonstration in California on October 27, 2026.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete
Verb
  • Whitney McLaughlin, an art teacher at the school, worked with students through an after-school mural program to create artwork that now decorates a building at the park.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • About one-third (34 and 32 percent, respectively) begin decorating before November compared with 11 percent of boomers.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of decorate

Browse Nearby Words

compleat
complement
complementary
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Cite this Entry

“Complement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complement. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about complement

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